Radiator-flushing unit



Patented Mar. 31, 1931 HENRY A. LASKO, OF WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIAPATENT OFF-ICE A RADIATOR-FLUSHING UNIT Application filed November 30,1929. Serial No, 410,845.

My invention relates to apparatus'adapted for flushing or cleaning outautomobile radiators and similar radiators, by continuous flow of wateror other cleaning liquid therethrough under" pressure, in a directionopposite to the normal direction of flow of liquid through the radiatorwhile the latter is in actual use.

My invention relates morcparticularly to a m novel apparatus or unit,which contains certain facilities inassemblcd and operative relation toeach other, for heating a cleaning liquid, for circulating said liquidunder pressure, for straining the cleaning liquid and for mounting aradiator core in operative relation to these facilities orinstrumentalities, so that the same may be applied to the radiator withthe greatest facility, efiiciency and ease.

My invention further relates to novel details of construction which willbe described more in detail hereinafter.

With the above ends in view, my invention consists in a unitary piece ofapparatus, or what is hereby termed a radiator flushing unit,preferably, though not necessarily, mounted on wheels so as to render itmore portable, including a radiator mounting rack or radiator support,upon which the radiator core of an automobile or the like maybe mounted,a liquid reservoir for containing the cleaning liquid, suitable heatingmeans associated with the reservoir for heating the cleaning liquid asmay be desirable. a liquid pump. preferably of a rotary type. driven byanv suitable meanssuch as an electric motor, said pump having its intakeconnected to the liquid reservoir and having its discharge portconnected to a regulating valve, means for mounting the radiator coreupon the radiator rack or support in inverted position. and suitableflexible hose connections for connecting the bottom of the radiator coreto the control valve and for connecting the top of the radiator core tothe strainer, through which the cleaning liquid is again discharged intothe liquid reservoir.

My invention further consists of a novel expansible plug adapted foreffecting a quick detachable and liquid pressure proof connectionbetween the flexible hose and the top or bottom inlet or outlet of theradiator core.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shown in theaccompanying drawings one form thereof .which is at present preferred byme, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory andreliable results, although it is to be understood that theyariousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously Iarrangedand organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as hereinshown and described.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicatelike parts.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my novel radiator flushing unit,with the liquid reservoir shown in section.

Figure 2 represents a top plan View of the same.

Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the same. 1

Figure 4 represents-a sectional view of an expansible plug embodying myinvention.

My novel radiatorflushing unit consists of any suitable base 5, ofsuitable length and width, mounted on suitable wheels or casters 6, soas to permit the unit to he moved'or wheeled about with facility. At oneend of the base 5 I provide a generally upright panel 7, supported by apair of suitable braces or stays 8, and having a pair of horizontally,projecting supporting brackets 9, upon which the radiator core 10 may besupported, in'the inverted position indicated in thedrawings. Anysuitable clamping means 11 and 12 may be employed for retaining theradiator core 10 inposition upon the supports 9. Thus the verticalbracket or rod 12 may be anchored in the up-right panel 7, as by beingbolted thereto or otherwise secured thereto, and the clamping rod 11having a hooked end for engagement with the radiator 10, may be adapted'to extend through the bracket 12. By any suitable nut, as for instance,a nut 45, threaded onto the end of the clamping rod 11, the radiator. 10may be secured firmly on the panel 7.

At the opposed end of the base 5, a cylindrical reservoir 13 is mounted,having its sary. The direction of the flow of the cleanbottom 14.positioned a suitable distance ing 1i uid is indicated by the arrows 34.above the base 5, so as to accommodate a In *igure 4 I have illustratedan expanas burner or other heatingmeans 15 beneath sible,quick-detachable plug adapted for use the bottom 14 of the reservoir. Asuitable on the free ends of the flexible hose 29 and 32, lid 16 may beprovided on the top of the for establishing connection between said hosereservoir 13. and the inlet opening 33 and the outlet open- The inlet 17of the reservoir 13, terminates ing 30 of the radiator core 10. The hose29 in a straining or filtering device 18 of any is attached to a nipple35, of iron or brass or suitable contructionwithin the rservoir 13, sothe like, the free end 36 of which is screwthat the liquid returned intothe reservoir 13 threaded. A manually operable wing nut is strained orfiltered before it is actually disor the like 37 is threadedly mountedon the charged into the reservoir. threaded portion 36, and immediatelyadja- Intermediate of the radiator supporting cent to it a suitableloosely fitting washer 38 panel 7 and the reservoir 13, I mount a pumpis placed over the threaded stem 36. A rela- 19 of any suitable type andof appropriate tively soft, yieldable and expansible plug 39, capacity(preferably a rotary pump), with formed of rubber or the like, andhaving a its axis extending transversely of the base 5. central bore 40loosely fittingover the thread- An electric motor 20, or any othersuitable ed portion 36 of the nipple, is provided in motor power may beprovided on the base 5 in abutting relation to the washer 38. Acoroperative juxtaposition to the pump 19, and responding washer 41 isthen placed against either directly or otherwiseponnected to the theother end of the plug 39. and a suitable pump shaft 21. nut or otherterminal fastening means 42 is The outlet 22 of the reservoir 13 isconthen provided to retain the assemblage of the nected to the inletport 23 of the pump 1 parts on the threaded portion 36 of the nipthroughsuitable piping 24. The outlet or ple 35. discharge port 25 of the pump19 is connected In applying this plug, the nut 37 is loosy he piping 2 ESl i COIIirOl Valve ened up and the plug is then inserted into the 27positioned at a suitable height for conopening to which the hose 29 or32 is to be venient manipulation. To the pipe 28 eX- secured, with thenut 37 remaining outside the tending from the' control valve 27, aflexible opening. The nut 37 is then tightened against hose 29 isattached, the free end of which may thewasher 38 and against the body ofthe then be secured to the bottom outlet 30 of the plug 39, causing thelatter to be squeezed in an radiator 10. Suitable piping 31 is attachedaxial direction and to expand correspondto the inlet 17 of the reservoir13, and to the ingly in a radial direction against the inner lower endof the piping 31 a flexible hose 32 wall of the opening. By thustightening the is attached, the free end of which is in turn nnt37 theopening is plugged up tight in a connected to the upper inlet 33 of theradia quick and convenient manner, whlch can then tor 10. be releasedwith e ual facility by simply In the normal operation of my novelflushloosening the nut 3 and allowing the plug ing'unit, the reservoir13 is filled with a suit- 39 to contract again. able quantity of wateror preferably some It will be understood that in the operation suitablecleansing fluid, as indicated in Figof my novel flushing unit the toprefill openure 1. Byuneans of the gas-burner 15 or any ing 43 of theradiator core 10, as well as the other suitable heater, the liquid inthe reserdrain pipe usually provided on radiator voir 13 is heated to asuitable temperature. cores, are suitably plugged up. The radiator 10,mounted upon the panel 7 in By my novel radiator flushing unit, I am theinverted position shown in Figure 1, is enabled to pass water or anyother cleaning then connected to the piping 28 and 31 by the liquidthrough the radiator in a direction opflexible hose connection 29 and 32respectiveposite to the normal flow of water through ly. The motor 20and pump 19 are then set the radiator when the latter is in use as artin operation, causing a flow of liquid from of the cooling system of aninternal com usthe reservoir 13 through the piping 24, tion engine. Thesediment or scale forming through the pump 19 and then out through inthe radiator while the latter is in use, the piping 26 and control valve27 into the usually predominates at the top of the radiaoutlet 30 of theradiator core (normally positor where the water enters the radiatorcore. tioned at the bottom), then through the radi- Thus it is one ofthe objects of m invention ator in a downward direction and through tocirculate the cleaning liquid t rough the the inlet 33 of the radiatorback through the radiator in a direction directly opposite to piping 31into the strainer or filter 1 8 and that in which the sediment formingliquid then into the reservoir 13. The sediment and was circulatedthrough the radiator while the other, solid matter which is washed outof latter was in use. By this means the passages the radiator by theflow of cleaning liquid is of the radiator maybe cleaned more quickly,then filtered out by the filter 18 which may since the obstructions arenot only removed be cleaned out or emptied whenever necesby reason ofthe cleaning liquid but also by the mechanical action of the stream offluid. The novel radiator flushing unit of my present invention Worksequally well on any type of radiator core, whether the same is of thetubular or the cellular or honeycomb type.

In extremely clogged up radiator cores it may be necessary to circulatethe cleaning liquid through the radiator core comparative- 1y slowly inorder to prevent any damage to the core by reason of the pressure of thecleaning liquid. This may be controlled by the valve 27. I

The cleaning liquid used in this flushing unit may be any suitableaqueous solution or the like, of which many have been devised.

I am aware that my invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essentialattributes thereof, and Itherefore desire, the present embodiments to be considered in allrespects as illustrative and not restrictive,referencebeing had to theappended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I hereby claim as new anddesire to secure by mounted upon said platform having its intakepermanently connected with the bottom of said reservoir and having itsexhaust adapted for detachable connection with the upper end of aradiator when mounted upon said radiator support, and .a pipecommunieating with the upper portion of sald reservoir and with thelower end of a radiator when mounted upon said radiator support.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day ofNovember, 1929. ENRY A. LASKO.

